Now they even want to tax your parking space at the office!

SCOTS firms face a new tax on staff parking spaces under proposals being considered by SNP ministers.

A report by green campaigners has called for a ‘workplace parking levy’ to be charged on every space provided by employers.

Industry leaders have branded the proposal a ‘tax on firms’ which they can illafford – and critics have warned that the charge could be passed on to employees.

But ministers yesterday welcomed it as a ‘useful contribution’ that they will consider as part of upcoming transport legislation.

Proposals for a workplace parking levy were first outlined by the Scottish Government in its draft climate change plan last year.

A similar scheme operates in Nottingham, where firms with more than ten parking spaces pay almost £402 for each one. The charge raised £9.3million for the local council in 2015-16.

In Nottingham, it is estimated that around half of all spaces are paid for by employees rather than businesses.

In a paper published by campaign group Transform Scotland, it calls for new powers to be handed to local councils that would allow them to introduce the levy.

Colin Howden, director of Transform Scotland, said: ‘It is by now clear that the previous transport bills passed by the Scottish parliament in 2001 and 2005 were ineffective in cutting congestion or pollution, or reversing the decline in bus use.

‘This year’s Bill provides an important opportunity to start turning round some of these problems.’

Professor Tom Rye of Edinburgh Napier University’s Transport Research Institute, which advised Transform Scotland on its report, said: ‘Parking levies are one of the most effective ways to control the use of private cars in urban areas.

‘Nottingham City Council’s Workplace Parking Levy scheme has resulted in a significant modal shift to public transport, walking and cycling.’

However, the proposals were criticised by firms which already pay business rates on parking spaces.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, which represents supermarket chains and high street stores, said: ‘We would be sceptical about the introduction of costly new workplace parking levies.

‘A levy like this could well be seen as yet another tax on firms which they can ill afford, and we understand business rates are already paid on workplace parking spaces anyway.’

Transport Scotland called the report ‘useful’ and said there had been ‘substantial’ consultation on the new Transport Bill.

The legislation, expected to include a series of measures aimed at improving public transport, is due to be tabled before Holyrood goes into summer recess at the end of this month.

Last year, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf revealed that Scottish Government officials had contacted Nottingham City Council about its scheme, while several Scottish local authorities have expressed an interest.

The Scottish Government claims it will work towards completely phasing out conventional diesel and petrol vehicles by 2032.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘The Transport (Scotland) Bill, which will be introduced before the parliamentary recess, is informed through a substantial process of public engagement and consultation where many stakeholders, including Transform Scotland, have previously shared their views.

‘This report is another useful contribution from Transform Scotland and we hope they continue to engage in the parliamentary process following the introduction of the Bill.’

‘Control the use of private cars’